Billy Joe Saunders said no to a big-money comeback fight. The former world champion turned down millions of dollars for a rematch with Chris Eubank Jr planned for December.
Saunders hasn't stepped in the ring since May 2021. That night, he faced Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in a super middleweight title fight. The bout ended when Alvarez landed a savage uppercut in the eighth round, breaking Saunders' orbital bone. The injury forced Saunders to retire on his stool, losing his WBO title to Canelo.
Before that loss, Saunders had put together an impressive career. He beat Andy Lee to become world champion and successfully defended his title against David Lemieux. Saunders also notched victories over Martin Murray and Chris Eubank Jr.
Recently, talks of a comeback surfaced. Promoters offered Saunders millions for a rematch with Eubank Jr in December. But Saunders decided against it. He explained his decision to talkSPORT:
"Why was I going to get in the ring and lose the weight and jump straight in and potentially get beat just for money? Especially with Eubank, I want a fair crack of the whip and with training and fights to get back in to go and win that fight."
Saunders felt he needed more time to prepare properly. He didn't want to rush into a high-profile fight after such a long layoff, even for a big payday.
While Saunders ponders his next move, Eubank Jr has his hands full. He's set to face Conor Benn on April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, continuing another bitter rivalry in British boxing.
